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Foreign Affairs Council – 18 March 2019

My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will attend the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 18 March. It will be chaired by the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HRVP), Federica Mogherini and will take place in Brussels.

China

Ministers will discuss their approach to the upcoming EU-China summit in April and the strategic direction of EU-China relations. The UK will highlight the importance of European coordination in engagement with China. The UK is committed to continue working closely with European partners on China after we leave the EU.

Republic of Moldova

Ministers will discuss the political situation in Moldova following the 24 February Parliamentary elections, in which no political party won an overall majority. In this context, the focus of the FAC will be to take stock of the elections and discuss the EU’s expectations for the next government, once it is established. The UK supports continued EU engagement with Moldova based on the conditions set out in the 2014 Association Agreement, which remains the best means to deliver tangible benefits to the Moldovan people.

Yemen

Ministers will discuss the current state of the conflict in Yemen. Following the Stockholm Peace Talks in December 2018, the EU adopted new FAC Conclusions, which set out EU support for the political process. Ministers will focus on the next steps, urging implementation of the Stockholm Agreements and support of the wider peace process. The session will include a briefing from the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and the UK will reaffirm its support to him and the UN.

Council Conclusions

The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the EU’s Human Rights guidelines on non-discrimination, two Court of Auditors’ Special Reports on EU funding to NGOs and on internal security capacity building in Niger and Mali.